Friday evening will be forever etched in my mind as an evening of awe and great saddness. I attended the Memorial Service for Joshua Gulvas, age 21, who lost his life in a hiking accident in Colorado on Sept. 12th, 2009.
Unfortunately, I never had the privilege of meeting this remarkable young man. I am friends with his mother, Shelley, and also know their daughter, Anna. We don't see each other very often, but we tend to pick right up where we left off. Shelley has a heart for the Lord that is intense, vibrant and contagious! When news came to me concerning Josh's situation in the Colorado wilderness, I was beyond shocked. He and his Dad, Rand, had only parted ways for a short time at the end of their hike. Josh never made it to the rendevous point, and from Tues. evening until Friday afternoon, his parents, family and friends lived through a nightmare that I personally cannot even imagine. Word went out via news, radio, cell phones and the internet. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of believers were all praying for his safe return. That safe return never came. We ALL had hopes that Josh would be found alive. When his body was found at the bottom of a 300 ft. cliff, it sent shock waves of disbelief, questions of "why now? why Josh" through hundreds of people.
I can think of few things that "rock" the soul of a believer more than unexpected tragedy. We all know that accidents happen, that isn't the issue. But it is one thing to KNOW that things happen, and yet quite another to experience that on a personal level. At one point in the Memorial, it was shared that Rand had a response to the comment: How do you deal with such a tragedy? He responded that if Josh DIDN'T know Christ, that would have been the real tragedy. What a courageous response from a father whose heart was breaking in two.
This service was powerful. It actually reminded me of another Memorial Service that we attended almost exactly a year ago - yet again another 21 year old christian young man that had died in a car accident. A young man engaged to be married. Josh's Memorial was a perfect blend of true worship to the Lord, in the midst of searing grief and human loss. Earlier in the afternoon, the family had already been present in a private ceremony where Josh's remains were laid to rest. The evening was reserved for family and friends to come together to remember Josh's life.
The sanctuary at New Life Church was full of pictures of Josh, surrounded by many of his personal things. His "scrubs" with the badge - "Otterbein Nursing Student", his well worn jeans, lots of pictures, pictures of him being kissed by little Anna, a large canvas picture of him pointing to his "No. 4" jersey from soccer, his guns, soccer balls, frisbee's, favorite books and old tennis shoes. It felt strange to be among his personal "stuff", but it also felt comforting to know that these things would comfort his family in the long days and weeks ahead. A small reminder of the Josh that was here on earth, who is presently in heaven.
Worship music filled the building as hundreds of people sang:
"Blessed be your name
in the land that is plentiful,
where the streams of abundance flow, blessed be your name.
Blessed be your name,
on the road marked with suffering,
though there's pain in the offering, blessed be your name."
Testimonies followed by those that knew and loved Josh most intimately. A letter read by dear, sweet little Anna, ending with "you were the best big brother ever, and I will miss you!" An older sister's tribute to her little brother, so eloquently put to words by her heartfelt love for him. A life long friend that had the privilege of being escourted to her prom by Josh (when her previous date suddenly cancelled). Grown young men, reduced to tears, cracking voices and quivering hands. Men that had funny stories about the adventurous Josh and also the prankster Josh. Serious paragraphs were read also, about how Josh's life showed the love of Christ in his everyday actions and words, and how these actions and words had served to challenge others in their walk with Christ. After each testimony, Shelley and Megan would rise from their seat to offer their quiet "thank you's" and give each contributor a long embrace. At the conclusion, Shelley couldn't keep herself back, and stood at the podium herself, Rand right at her side. She gave the final, unexpected tribute, when she said that she couldn't sit there and not tell us what a wonderful son Josh had been to her. She said that she was the luckiest mother alive - and that she would miss him everyday for the rest of her life. (She made me laugh when she said..."On mother's day, some of my friends would get a paragraph from their son, and Josh would write me three pages!" She barely made it through her tears, but at last admitted that a part of her had also died with him that day, and nothing would ever be the same. I don't believe there was a dry eye in the sanctuary, that literally held hundreds of people.
Another song was sung:
"I will rise, when he calls my name; no more sorrow, no more pain!
I will rise, on eagle's wings, before my God, fall on my knees, and rise...
I will rise."
As the song began to cresendo, it felt as it the Lord allowed each of us there a very brief, small view where Josh was now, where we would be some day:
"I hear the voice of many angels sing, Worthy is the Lamb!
And I hear the sound of many voices sing - WORTHY IS THE LAMB!"
It is the strangest thing to have human tears streaming down your face in grief,
and yet your soul rising to the heights of joy just THINKING about being with Him!
The place was perfectly quiet as a picture montage of Josh's life showed on two big screens at the front. What a sweet little boy he must have been! Pictures with family, with friends, being silly, being sporty. The last dozen or so photo's showed Josh and Rand on Sept. 5-6th on their hiking trip in Colorado. The scenery was indeed breath taking! One photo I will never forget, showed Josh at the top of a large cliff. His hands were outstretched and the sun was shining behind him as he stood there all alone - basking in the contentment of being in that rugged, beautiful place. Little did he know, little did anyone know, that that would be the last picture taken of him here on this earth. It was eerie and it was serene. The Lord knew that Josh would be with Him soon.
The evening closed as the family came forward and close friends and family encircled them as we prayed for their comfort that night and in the many long weeks ahead. Sobs broke the silence from time to time as the grief overflowed from one family member to the next. I appreciated those sobs, in a weird sort of way. When death comes and believers ONLY celebrate the life of the loved one who is now in heaven, it leaves me confused. What about the grief? What about the mourning? Isn't that a very real part of death, even for those of us who know that we possess Jesus, the resurrection and the life? Even Jesus wept. We can rejoice that our loved ones are in the presence of Jesus, but we can also wail and mourn that we no longer have them here with us on this earth. We grieve not for them, but for us.
I am reminded again of the berevity of life. Life is a fragile gift, each and every day. "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Ps. 90:12
Thank you, Joshua Gulvas, for living your short life to the fullest and for being a Christ follower that pointed others to Him. Thank you, Shelley, for being my random friend, and for the brief times we've been together to laugh and cry about "life". Thank you, dear Jesus, for the comfort that only you can give. Thank you for paying the price for our sins, that we may be made righteous in your sight. Thank you, dear Father, that someday all these trials will be behind us, and we will forever be in your presence!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Where did the Summer Go?
A few years ago, I remember thinking about life in terms of Seasons. Fall - a glorious time to enjoy the weather, prepare for the coming cold months. Winter - a sometimes long and hard season to get through with trials and barrenness. Spring - promise of hope as life emerges from the death of Winter - and last, but not least, Summer! A time to harvest, but also a time to play in the sun.
This summer has flown by. I jokingly turned my calendar back to July protesting the end of one of my favorite times. yea...like that is going to work. : )
My life, and the lives of my friends and family is a complex mix of "Seasons", all at the same time. For instance, Dan and I are in "summer" mode. Time to keep working, but it has also been a time to harvest and enjoy some of the fruits of our labor. By the grace of God, and many prayers I am sure - we recently refinanced the house! At 5.5%!!! It made every long hour of work that we've done on our home this year so worth it. Thank you so much Lord. It is one step closer to digging out of this pit that we've been in! Ps. 90 has been in my heart for so long:
"Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations...
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children." Vs. 1, 14-16
It's so exciting to see my kids reveling in their "Spring" seasons - homes remodeled and moved in to, the possibility of having babies of their own, the dreams and hopes of careers and futures. Even tonight, I had the chance to hug my niece and her husband, who are expecting a baby in May. They just suffered the loss of Shane's brother, Chad (on Aug. 20) and out of the BLUE found out they were expecting! This little life was conceived close to the time of Chad's death. Hugging Shane tonight I said: "Congratulations! (on the new baby) "I'm so sorry for your loss". It's wierd when the Seasons overlap. Just like the transition between Winter and Spring, you don't know whether to wear a warm coat or a spring jacket. Sometimes we don't know if we'll be laughing that day, or crying.
Some of my friends are in the dead of "Winter". Trial upon trial - financial stress, illness, leukemia, death. Winter can be so long! Even in the physical realm, Feb. is one of the hardest months for me to endure. It seems that the ice will never go away, that the sun will never shine again. But then...Spring bursts forth. In such a small way, it displays the faithfulness of the Lord. Just as He brings the seasons each year, so He brings constant change into our world - change that is ultimately for our good, and His glory.
I'm thankful for my life and the everyday reminders the Lord sends my way. I'm thankful for the cold, (sometimes) unrelenting Winter seasons in my life, because without them, I could never appreciate the warm and gentle breezes, or the tiny budding flowers of Spring. I'm thankful that He has allowed our Summer seasons to spill into Fall. I'm thankful for hard work, great play and the brilliant blue skies of Fall that constantly point me to my creator.
Whatever "Season" you are in, rest assured that God is faithful to see you through this one and into the next.
This summer has flown by. I jokingly turned my calendar back to July protesting the end of one of my favorite times. yea...like that is going to work. : )
My life, and the lives of my friends and family is a complex mix of "Seasons", all at the same time. For instance, Dan and I are in "summer" mode. Time to keep working, but it has also been a time to harvest and enjoy some of the fruits of our labor. By the grace of God, and many prayers I am sure - we recently refinanced the house! At 5.5%!!! It made every long hour of work that we've done on our home this year so worth it. Thank you so much Lord. It is one step closer to digging out of this pit that we've been in! Ps. 90 has been in my heart for so long:
"Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations...
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children." Vs. 1, 14-16
It's so exciting to see my kids reveling in their "Spring" seasons - homes remodeled and moved in to, the possibility of having babies of their own, the dreams and hopes of careers and futures. Even tonight, I had the chance to hug my niece and her husband, who are expecting a baby in May. They just suffered the loss of Shane's brother, Chad (on Aug. 20) and out of the BLUE found out they were expecting! This little life was conceived close to the time of Chad's death. Hugging Shane tonight I said: "Congratulations! (on the new baby) "I'm so sorry for your loss". It's wierd when the Seasons overlap. Just like the transition between Winter and Spring, you don't know whether to wear a warm coat or a spring jacket. Sometimes we don't know if we'll be laughing that day, or crying.
Some of my friends are in the dead of "Winter". Trial upon trial - financial stress, illness, leukemia, death. Winter can be so long! Even in the physical realm, Feb. is one of the hardest months for me to endure. It seems that the ice will never go away, that the sun will never shine again. But then...Spring bursts forth. In such a small way, it displays the faithfulness of the Lord. Just as He brings the seasons each year, so He brings constant change into our world - change that is ultimately for our good, and His glory.
I'm thankful for my life and the everyday reminders the Lord sends my way. I'm thankful for the cold, (sometimes) unrelenting Winter seasons in my life, because without them, I could never appreciate the warm and gentle breezes, or the tiny budding flowers of Spring. I'm thankful that He has allowed our Summer seasons to spill into Fall. I'm thankful for hard work, great play and the brilliant blue skies of Fall that constantly point me to my creator.
Whatever "Season" you are in, rest assured that God is faithful to see you through this one and into the next.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Life and Living
Well..it's been a while, again.
Since the last time I wrote, we've had a flurry again of activity - mostly good! I am happy to report that Nathanael and Jen AND Caleb and Amy are new home owners! I'm so proud of them. It was fun to watch them work so hard to accomplish their goals. More about all that later...
I'll start with today, and then move backwards through the past four months.
Today...
I'll describe it in adjectives that I am feeling. Tiring, Fulfilling, Challenging, Trying, Puzzling, Over-whelming, Extremely satisfying, Oh, so full of Joy.
Confused? me too. I have been stretched in my faith yet again and drawn closer to the Lord as I've learned to live with more unanswered questions.
In the mundane - we're still remodeling!!! I don't know why we can't finish it! Thankfully, Adam Thomas (Sophia's Dad) has been available for hire, and he is an expert craftsman that has helped us a great deal. I think that good old fashioned fatigue has hit Dan and I in between the eyes.
It's been an interesting summer thus far. The raccoons, I mean, the boys - are still living in the basement! Tonight one of them is in Granville playing tennis or volleyball, which has become a common excursion these past few weeks. We're on completely different schedules (I am a morning person, they are night people - you know, like raccoons. : ) Overall - it has been very good having them home. I have missed my man-boys.
Dan is still doing well with his business endeavors - thank you Lord!!! He's busy and tired, but we have committed to "finding each other" when our lives slow down a bit. I am, as usual, behind on many fronts. I still haven't finished school and we need to have our evaluations completed. Oh, the never ending lists. We home schoolers have a favorite saying: "well...there's always NEXT year!" We joke about how we keep striving for that optimum home school year! I think it is an illusion.
Church? good. Family? good. Friends? mostly good. still some major trials for some. (Relay for Hope is tomorrow for Sophia! Also - please pray for our friends the Winklers. Their daughter, Paula, was diagnosed with A.M.L. Leukemia just a few weeks ago. Paula (17 yr.) and Sophia (17 mo.) are on the same floor and have met each other!
My weight/health? not so good. Again - "there's always NEXT year!" It's an illusion.
Well, this is a lot about nothing, but it has given me time to exercise my brain.
I have been so blessed to be in Psalm 90 lately. God has truly restored so much of what has been lost for us - I can never praise Him enough.
Good night, moon. Good night, stars. good night everyone.
Since the last time I wrote, we've had a flurry again of activity - mostly good! I am happy to report that Nathanael and Jen AND Caleb and Amy are new home owners! I'm so proud of them. It was fun to watch them work so hard to accomplish their goals. More about all that later...
I'll start with today, and then move backwards through the past four months.
Today...
I'll describe it in adjectives that I am feeling. Tiring, Fulfilling, Challenging, Trying, Puzzling, Over-whelming, Extremely satisfying, Oh, so full of Joy.
Confused? me too. I have been stretched in my faith yet again and drawn closer to the Lord as I've learned to live with more unanswered questions.
In the mundane - we're still remodeling!!! I don't know why we can't finish it! Thankfully, Adam Thomas (Sophia's Dad) has been available for hire, and he is an expert craftsman that has helped us a great deal. I think that good old fashioned fatigue has hit Dan and I in between the eyes.
It's been an interesting summer thus far. The raccoons, I mean, the boys - are still living in the basement! Tonight one of them is in Granville playing tennis or volleyball, which has become a common excursion these past few weeks. We're on completely different schedules (I am a morning person, they are night people - you know, like raccoons. : ) Overall - it has been very good having them home. I have missed my man-boys.
Dan is still doing well with his business endeavors - thank you Lord!!! He's busy and tired, but we have committed to "finding each other" when our lives slow down a bit. I am, as usual, behind on many fronts. I still haven't finished school and we need to have our evaluations completed. Oh, the never ending lists. We home schoolers have a favorite saying: "well...there's always NEXT year!" We joke about how we keep striving for that optimum home school year! I think it is an illusion.
Church? good. Family? good. Friends? mostly good. still some major trials for some. (Relay for Hope is tomorrow for Sophia! Also - please pray for our friends the Winklers. Their daughter, Paula, was diagnosed with A.M.L. Leukemia just a few weeks ago. Paula (17 yr.) and Sophia (17 mo.) are on the same floor and have met each other!
My weight/health? not so good. Again - "there's always NEXT year!" It's an illusion.
Well, this is a lot about nothing, but it has given me time to exercise my brain.
I have been so blessed to be in Psalm 90 lately. God has truly restored so much of what has been lost for us - I can never praise Him enough.
Good night, moon. Good night, stars. good night everyone.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Heartaches and Homecomings....
Forgive me, but I'll tell you in advance I can hardly put together a coherent sentence tonight. I've had a full heart, overflowing with some heartache, some joy. I don't know who said this, but I think of it alot: "Life for the believer is a daily walk of sorrow and joy existing on parallel planes."
Joyful things:
1. Seth is home from Colorado! Yea. We're all so glad to have him home. Dan and I were actually enroute to home from our four day business trip to Mississippi when Seth (traveling in Mo.) called us. The conversation was so "seth" ...
"Hey Mommer, how are you?"
"Great Seth, I was just about to call you! How are you?"
"Fine, fine. Where are you?"
"We're just east of Columbus...almost home! Where are you?"
"I'm in Missouri. But right now, I'm on the side of the road because a semi just hit me."
"WHAT???"
He proceeded to tell us the story (mean, mean truck driver) which was a "hit and run" (meaning - Seth is going to have to pay for the damage to his car - no collision insurance). But I am JOYFUL because he wasn't injured, except for his wallet and an inconvient stay in Mo., and he is home.
2. Our married kids are looking at houses! oh, how I remember how exciting it was purchasing our first home. I'm so excited for them.
3. Dan is in negotiations for his third project in Mississippi. His current project will provide income for us until December, so we are hoping there is another one on the horizon soon!
4. Our remodeling is almost done! Can somebody say "AMEN!" I'm so tired.
5. Everyday joys: laughing with Michaela about my facebook quiz: "How many kids should you have?" Oops...my answer came up two or three! We laughed about loading up kids 4 - 8 and taking them back to the hospital. "What are you doing here?" "Well...my facebook quiz said I wasn't supposed to have these guys."
Listening to Moke play our new (used) digital piano! It has a beautiful sound - I am so thankful to have music in the house again! Watching Seth pay Michaela a dollar to scratch his back, taking Danielle to Columbus State (yes - we got lost), sorting through her growing-up pictures for her upcoming graduation, laughing with Jen and Danielle at the bar (you wouldn't believe what we were talking about!) ... these and so many other sweet memories. I wish I could tuck them all away and pull them out in vivid detail when I want to remember these moments.
Heartache things:
1. Please pray for the family of Shawn - a 21 yr. old that shot and killed himself on Wed. night. It is a heart wrenching story - as far as anyone knows - he did not know the Lord. But we all hang on to hope. Nathanael and Zac trained with him, and the Goodwin family knew him much better. Ryan was in the parking lot of Shawn's apartment when he ended his life. Please pray for his family, for his friends and especially his 19 year old sister. She found out recently that she has a heart condition that may cause her life to end in less than a year. I can't wrap my brain around this one at all. I know that God is merciful, full of compassion - I just felt like someone punched me in the stomach when I heard this news.
2. This is kind of a joy/heartache: First, I was able to spend time with Sophia last week! She, as always, melts my heart with her sweet smiles and waves. She was also able to be home for three days with her family inbetween her chemo. this time. She is once again back in Children's, and is having alot of pain and side effects. She has fractured two of her fingers also. Please keep praying for this little warrior! I can barely talk about her without tearing up. She is so precious. Ginger and Adam will forever be in my book as my hero's of the faith. They are remaining so strong through all this. I pray little Sophia can be home, healed and whole. May/June is still the target time.
3. My friend Linda is still grieving the loss of her Mom. It hurts me to see her hurt, and yet I know that death is a part of life for all of us. Jen's cousins are still in extrememe pain over the loss of their little son. Death is so brutal and so final - and yet it ushers those of us that believe into the very presense of our Lord. Joy/Sorrow - running on parallel planes.
I flipped open my Bible to Isaiah this morning as I am always drawn there during this holy season of remembering Jesus death and resurrection. I will close with a random assortment of verses that spoke comfort, hope and peace to me:
"You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat." (25:4)
"You will keep him in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." (26:3)
"O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress." (33:2)
"He tends his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." (40:11)
(I thought of Ginger/Sophia and April/Malachi)
"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." (8)
Amen.
Joyful things:
1. Seth is home from Colorado! Yea. We're all so glad to have him home. Dan and I were actually enroute to home from our four day business trip to Mississippi when Seth (traveling in Mo.) called us. The conversation was so "seth" ...
"Hey Mommer, how are you?"
"Great Seth, I was just about to call you! How are you?"
"Fine, fine. Where are you?"
"We're just east of Columbus...almost home! Where are you?"
"I'm in Missouri. But right now, I'm on the side of the road because a semi just hit me."
"WHAT???"
He proceeded to tell us the story (mean, mean truck driver) which was a "hit and run" (meaning - Seth is going to have to pay for the damage to his car - no collision insurance). But I am JOYFUL because he wasn't injured, except for his wallet and an inconvient stay in Mo., and he is home.
2. Our married kids are looking at houses! oh, how I remember how exciting it was purchasing our first home. I'm so excited for them.
3. Dan is in negotiations for his third project in Mississippi. His current project will provide income for us until December, so we are hoping there is another one on the horizon soon!
4. Our remodeling is almost done! Can somebody say "AMEN!" I'm so tired.
5. Everyday joys: laughing with Michaela about my facebook quiz: "How many kids should you have?" Oops...my answer came up two or three! We laughed about loading up kids 4 - 8 and taking them back to the hospital. "What are you doing here?" "Well...my facebook quiz said I wasn't supposed to have these guys."
Listening to Moke play our new (used) digital piano! It has a beautiful sound - I am so thankful to have music in the house again! Watching Seth pay Michaela a dollar to scratch his back, taking Danielle to Columbus State (yes - we got lost), sorting through her growing-up pictures for her upcoming graduation, laughing with Jen and Danielle at the bar (you wouldn't believe what we were talking about!) ... these and so many other sweet memories. I wish I could tuck them all away and pull them out in vivid detail when I want to remember these moments.
Heartache things:
1. Please pray for the family of Shawn - a 21 yr. old that shot and killed himself on Wed. night. It is a heart wrenching story - as far as anyone knows - he did not know the Lord. But we all hang on to hope. Nathanael and Zac trained with him, and the Goodwin family knew him much better. Ryan was in the parking lot of Shawn's apartment when he ended his life. Please pray for his family, for his friends and especially his 19 year old sister. She found out recently that she has a heart condition that may cause her life to end in less than a year. I can't wrap my brain around this one at all. I know that God is merciful, full of compassion - I just felt like someone punched me in the stomach when I heard this news.
2. This is kind of a joy/heartache: First, I was able to spend time with Sophia last week! She, as always, melts my heart with her sweet smiles and waves. She was also able to be home for three days with her family inbetween her chemo. this time. She is once again back in Children's, and is having alot of pain and side effects. She has fractured two of her fingers also. Please keep praying for this little warrior! I can barely talk about her without tearing up. She is so precious. Ginger and Adam will forever be in my book as my hero's of the faith. They are remaining so strong through all this. I pray little Sophia can be home, healed and whole. May/June is still the target time.
3. My friend Linda is still grieving the loss of her Mom. It hurts me to see her hurt, and yet I know that death is a part of life for all of us. Jen's cousins are still in extrememe pain over the loss of their little son. Death is so brutal and so final - and yet it ushers those of us that believe into the very presense of our Lord. Joy/Sorrow - running on parallel planes.
I flipped open my Bible to Isaiah this morning as I am always drawn there during this holy season of remembering Jesus death and resurrection. I will close with a random assortment of verses that spoke comfort, hope and peace to me:
"You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat." (25:4)
"You will keep him in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." (26:3)
"O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress." (33:2)
"He tends his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." (40:11)
(I thought of Ginger/Sophia and April/Malachi)
"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." (8)
Amen.
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Luck of the Irish
It's almost St. Patrick's Day! I love green, Irish step dancing, celtic music and a vast array of other "Irish" things. So I'm planning on tomorrow being a good day.
I love that my dainty purple crocus flowers have already bloomed in my front flower bed, right along side my snowman decoration that I need to put away. However, as I recall, about a year ago we were shoveling some 20 plus inches of snow around here!
New flowers remind me of new beginnings. Last week was long and rough, and I'm looking forward to the new beginnings that come with Spring. Christine's funeral was beautiful and yet so mournful. As we walked into the funeral home for the viewing, Emily spotted Michaela and fell into her arms as the tears flowed. It was such a bittersweet picture for me. It could have been Linda and myself. As we say our good-bye's here on earth, I know that the deep grief is just beginning for her family left here. Please keep praying for Linda and her family - we will all miss "Mammy".
If you didn't hear, Sophia was home for four nights with her family! Now we must surround them with much prayer as she is entering a very crucial stage in her chemo treatments. Please pray that God grants this baby life and health and peace. Please pray for continued strength for Ginger, Adam and their entire family.
We will be entering day 20 something of our remodeling project tomorrow....bla!!!
I'm too "old and busted" to be tackling some of this stuff. I'm so thankful that in heaven, there will be no need for any remodeling or repainting!
A year ago, I was writing limerick's for all my facebook friends.
I was inspired by my friend Pam, who wrote one for Dan when we first found out he had bladder cancer. It went like this:
"There once was a fine man named Dan,
who daily would ask God his plan,
God gave His answer,
by allowing Dan cancer,
Dan said: "Can we try this again?"
It is silly, but really fun. One guy named me the "Limerick lady" - and in honor of St. Patrick's day, I'm going to copy and paste my "Interview with the Limerick lady." (I had severe insomnia and could think of nothing better to do than "interview" myself - just for the fun of it. It's amazing what you will write at 3 in the morning. Plus, it is a good exercise to make fun of yourself once in a while.)
Read the story of St. Patrick to your children - it's an amazing one!
Interview with the "Limerick Lady".Share
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 11:14am | Edit Note | Delete
Yesterday afternoon, I was able to catch up with the woman who is now being referred to as the “Limerick Lady” on Facebook. She has been writing a personal limerick for each of her friends, and is creating quite a stir among the community. We met over a steaming mug of Highlander Grogg coffee in her home. She was very casual in a black sweater and dark jeans and her demeanor, given her newfound status, was upbeat and yet still very down to earth.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me and grant me this interview! ( The pleasure is all mine )
So, you're taken on the huge task of writing a limerick for each of your friends. Tell me, what inspired you to do such a thing?
(Well, I've become quite attached to the 71 wonderful people who call me their friend on Facebook, and I wanted to find a way to express that to each of them. Several weeks ago I wrote a limerick for my “wee” kitten, and as I quoted it out loud to her, her response was incredible. She just stared at me! Literally stared for quite some time, and it was at that moment that I knew just how profoundly a limerick could touch a living soul.)
Please, can you explain briefly what a limerick is, and why you chose that sort of poetry to touch these living souls?
(A limerick is a five lined form of humerus verse. Limericks may cover a wide range of subjects and derives its name from the city of Limerick, Ireland. Now, it's not that I'm completely partial to the Irish. But I do prefer their lyrical poetry over... say, the Japanese form called the “haiku”. I mean, trying to arrange a verse in three lines, with 17 syllables is too complicated for me. I can't be counting syllables - It doesn't fit my style. Besides, we have a lot to thank the Irish for. They gave us St. Patrick's Day, Lucky Charm's cereal (they're magically delicious!), River dance, Red hair (which I particularly love), Corned beef and cabbage, plus they invented the potato. They also gave us the adjective “wee” - which I personally think is great fun to throw around.)
The Irish invented the potato? I thought potatos were around long before the Irish.
(I may need to check my facts on that one, however we do owe the Irish a great deal.)
Back to the creation of your limerick's – why do you think this form of poetry comes so effortlessly to you?
(Most people forget that I am a home schooling Mom, with many “wee” youngsters around here. On any given day, I run across a lot of rhyming words. It has been a natural outpouring of my unique way of looking at others combined with what I am already familiar with.)
What has been the greatest reward to you, thus far, concerning the magnificent limericks you've written?
(Without a doubt, the greatest thing for me has been watching my wee children support my literary efforts. They make coffee for me (exclusively – Highlander Grogg), help keep our home tidy, and encourage me by asking me to write more. Their support has been.....(at this point, she began to tear up....) nothing short of amazing. Just seeing their happy faces as I quote their limericks has touched me! They literally beg me for more , bless their wee hearts.)
Given the huge success of this literary project of yours, have you considered what you would like to tackle next?
(I have, actually. I'm considering writing an “Ode” - which is a more serious, elaborate lyric, full of high praise and noble thinking. I'm thinking of “An Ode to Kirpi the Hedgehog”. Perhaps in the future, I'd also like to collaborate my writings with the poems of another and publish a masterpiece. I was thinking of something like:
“The Best of Lord Alfred Tennyson and the Limerick Lady.” What do you think?)
Well, I'm no expert on publishing books....but wouldn't that be rather difficult, considering that Lord Tennyson died in the late 1800's?
(You've got a wee point there.)
Do you anticipate that your current standard of living will change much, again, given the success of your limericks?
(Well......I don't know. I would still want to schedule my book signings far in advance, so I could take advantage of the $10 Skybus flights to the various cities. If I really wanted to splurge, I may purchase the Kalamutu variety of olives instead of the plain ones - or buy myself a wee bit more chocolate. But other than that, I think my life will pretty much stay the same.)
Well, it has been a pleasure getting to know you and the lyric that you hold so dear to your heart. Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?
(Yes. I'd like to thank my friends Pam Parsons and Robyn Baden, for their insightful comments regarding limericks in the past. I'd also like to thank Nate Johnson for referring to me as the “Limerick Lady” first! So in closing, I'd like to thank them, and the Irish. But especially, the Irish. And thank you for this wee interview!)
(post note: This has been a silly writing without any merit ~ but on a more serious note, I'd like to honestly share why I am writing limericks. Several years ago after Dan was diagnosed with cancer, Pam wrote Dan a limerick, which made us laugh and helped us see the lighter side of life! Her limerick:
“There once was a fine man named Dan,
who daily would ask God His plan,
God gave His answer,
by allowing Dan cancer,
Dan said, “Can we try this again?”
About the same time, Robyn and James Baden wrote a paper with the title:
“The Top Ten Reasons why Dan cannot die of bladder cancer.”
They said things like:
“Rabbit trails would grow over from lack of use.”
“Deb would have to conduct all Dan's business meetings in the form of Praise Dance.”
and other humerus reasons! They helped us get through our trial by helping us laugh again, and at the time – that was priceless.
In recent years, my heart has hurt over the other trials we've experienced, and I have found that writing, or singing or laughing, all these things help me cope. I love the written word – because the Lord used it to give us His Word. His Word has been my supreme comfort and joy. The Psalms have been my life during difficult, sleepless nights. Besides – I really do like poetry! Jen won a poetry contest at Otterbein College, plus Dan's Dad, in addition to my Uncle Don – loved writing poetry. I hope that this inspires one young person to pick up Tennyson or another poet, and give it a read! )
POST NOTE: March 17, 2008
A Very Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of you!!!
Growing up in a predominately Catholic community, I always thought St. Patrick's Day was a party day - green beer, pinching...the things my friends would talk about in middle school. How could I have missed hearing the true story of St. Patrick? He was one amazing person.
So today was pretty much thethe best for me...how could it not be with the profile I have! I was able to be home - watch "Riverdance", strike a few of my friends on facebook with a limerick - you know, fun stuff. Read with the kids about St. Patrick, The Irish- Americans - plus we checked out the website for the upcoming Irish Festival in Dublin - Aug. 1-3 - you should all come if you can. It's pretty awesome..and speaking of awesome - The live Riverdance troupe is coming to the Palace Theatre on April 16 - 22(?). I covet tickets for this! Our friends, James and Rachel bought us tickets one year - and it was one of the most amazing things I've ever witnessed. The music, the dancing and costumes ...oh wow.
Well, to the relief of many - the Limerick Lady is going on Sabbatical. (stop cheering - I can hear you.) I finished 25 limerick's, made a few laugh, a few cry and definatey embarressed a few of my kids. So....
I'm thinking I'll trade in my love of the limerick for the admiration of the author.
I keep looking at all my friends facebooks, and most have book reviews and the such. They must think I'm a nit wit or something -
Seriously - onto Holy Week now and the most sacred of all days - in my opinion - Resurrection Sunday. Jesus Christ was the MOST amazing individual to ever walk this earth. Fully God, fully man. So many deep things to now think of this week. So many things in Christ, our Savior - to be thankful for.
Blessings to all of you!
In this note: Jennifer Frederick (notes), Kirpi Frederick (notes), Pamela
I love that my dainty purple crocus flowers have already bloomed in my front flower bed, right along side my snowman decoration that I need to put away. However, as I recall, about a year ago we were shoveling some 20 plus inches of snow around here!
New flowers remind me of new beginnings. Last week was long and rough, and I'm looking forward to the new beginnings that come with Spring. Christine's funeral was beautiful and yet so mournful. As we walked into the funeral home for the viewing, Emily spotted Michaela and fell into her arms as the tears flowed. It was such a bittersweet picture for me. It could have been Linda and myself. As we say our good-bye's here on earth, I know that the deep grief is just beginning for her family left here. Please keep praying for Linda and her family - we will all miss "Mammy".
If you didn't hear, Sophia was home for four nights with her family! Now we must surround them with much prayer as she is entering a very crucial stage in her chemo treatments. Please pray that God grants this baby life and health and peace. Please pray for continued strength for Ginger, Adam and their entire family.
We will be entering day 20 something of our remodeling project tomorrow....bla!!!
I'm too "old and busted" to be tackling some of this stuff. I'm so thankful that in heaven, there will be no need for any remodeling or repainting!
A year ago, I was writing limerick's for all my facebook friends.
I was inspired by my friend Pam, who wrote one for Dan when we first found out he had bladder cancer. It went like this:
"There once was a fine man named Dan,
who daily would ask God his plan,
God gave His answer,
by allowing Dan cancer,
Dan said: "Can we try this again?"
It is silly, but really fun. One guy named me the "Limerick lady" - and in honor of St. Patrick's day, I'm going to copy and paste my "Interview with the Limerick lady." (I had severe insomnia and could think of nothing better to do than "interview" myself - just for the fun of it. It's amazing what you will write at 3 in the morning. Plus, it is a good exercise to make fun of yourself once in a while.)
Read the story of St. Patrick to your children - it's an amazing one!
Interview with the "Limerick Lady".Share
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 11:14am | Edit Note | Delete
Yesterday afternoon, I was able to catch up with the woman who is now being referred to as the “Limerick Lady” on Facebook. She has been writing a personal limerick for each of her friends, and is creating quite a stir among the community. We met over a steaming mug of Highlander Grogg coffee in her home. She was very casual in a black sweater and dark jeans and her demeanor, given her newfound status, was upbeat and yet still very down to earth.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me and grant me this interview! ( The pleasure is all mine )
So, you're taken on the huge task of writing a limerick for each of your friends. Tell me, what inspired you to do such a thing?
(Well, I've become quite attached to the 71 wonderful people who call me their friend on Facebook, and I wanted to find a way to express that to each of them. Several weeks ago I wrote a limerick for my “wee” kitten, and as I quoted it out loud to her, her response was incredible. She just stared at me! Literally stared for quite some time, and it was at that moment that I knew just how profoundly a limerick could touch a living soul.)
Please, can you explain briefly what a limerick is, and why you chose that sort of poetry to touch these living souls?
(A limerick is a five lined form of humerus verse. Limericks may cover a wide range of subjects and derives its name from the city of Limerick, Ireland. Now, it's not that I'm completely partial to the Irish. But I do prefer their lyrical poetry over... say, the Japanese form called the “haiku”. I mean, trying to arrange a verse in three lines, with 17 syllables is too complicated for me. I can't be counting syllables - It doesn't fit my style. Besides, we have a lot to thank the Irish for. They gave us St. Patrick's Day, Lucky Charm's cereal (they're magically delicious!), River dance, Red hair (which I particularly love), Corned beef and cabbage, plus they invented the potato. They also gave us the adjective “wee” - which I personally think is great fun to throw around.)
The Irish invented the potato? I thought potatos were around long before the Irish.
(I may need to check my facts on that one, however we do owe the Irish a great deal.)
Back to the creation of your limerick's – why do you think this form of poetry comes so effortlessly to you?
(Most people forget that I am a home schooling Mom, with many “wee” youngsters around here. On any given day, I run across a lot of rhyming words. It has been a natural outpouring of my unique way of looking at others combined with what I am already familiar with.)
What has been the greatest reward to you, thus far, concerning the magnificent limericks you've written?
(Without a doubt, the greatest thing for me has been watching my wee children support my literary efforts. They make coffee for me (exclusively – Highlander Grogg), help keep our home tidy, and encourage me by asking me to write more. Their support has been.....(at this point, she began to tear up....) nothing short of amazing. Just seeing their happy faces as I quote their limericks has touched me! They literally beg me for more , bless their wee hearts.)
Given the huge success of this literary project of yours, have you considered what you would like to tackle next?
(I have, actually. I'm considering writing an “Ode” - which is a more serious, elaborate lyric, full of high praise and noble thinking. I'm thinking of “An Ode to Kirpi the Hedgehog”. Perhaps in the future, I'd also like to collaborate my writings with the poems of another and publish a masterpiece. I was thinking of something like:
“The Best of Lord Alfred Tennyson and the Limerick Lady.” What do you think?)
Well, I'm no expert on publishing books....but wouldn't that be rather difficult, considering that Lord Tennyson died in the late 1800's?
(You've got a wee point there.)
Do you anticipate that your current standard of living will change much, again, given the success of your limericks?
(Well......I don't know. I would still want to schedule my book signings far in advance, so I could take advantage of the $10 Skybus flights to the various cities. If I really wanted to splurge, I may purchase the Kalamutu variety of olives instead of the plain ones - or buy myself a wee bit more chocolate. But other than that, I think my life will pretty much stay the same.)
Well, it has been a pleasure getting to know you and the lyric that you hold so dear to your heart. Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?
(Yes. I'd like to thank my friends Pam Parsons and Robyn Baden, for their insightful comments regarding limericks in the past. I'd also like to thank Nate Johnson for referring to me as the “Limerick Lady” first! So in closing, I'd like to thank them, and the Irish. But especially, the Irish. And thank you for this wee interview!)
(post note: This has been a silly writing without any merit ~ but on a more serious note, I'd like to honestly share why I am writing limericks. Several years ago after Dan was diagnosed with cancer, Pam wrote Dan a limerick, which made us laugh and helped us see the lighter side of life! Her limerick:
“There once was a fine man named Dan,
who daily would ask God His plan,
God gave His answer,
by allowing Dan cancer,
Dan said, “Can we try this again?”
About the same time, Robyn and James Baden wrote a paper with the title:
“The Top Ten Reasons why Dan cannot die of bladder cancer.”
They said things like:
“Rabbit trails would grow over from lack of use.”
“Deb would have to conduct all Dan's business meetings in the form of Praise Dance.”
and other humerus reasons! They helped us get through our trial by helping us laugh again, and at the time – that was priceless.
In recent years, my heart has hurt over the other trials we've experienced, and I have found that writing, or singing or laughing, all these things help me cope. I love the written word – because the Lord used it to give us His Word. His Word has been my supreme comfort and joy. The Psalms have been my life during difficult, sleepless nights. Besides – I really do like poetry! Jen won a poetry contest at Otterbein College, plus Dan's Dad, in addition to my Uncle Don – loved writing poetry. I hope that this inspires one young person to pick up Tennyson or another poet, and give it a read! )
POST NOTE: March 17, 2008
A Very Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of you!!!
Growing up in a predominately Catholic community, I always thought St. Patrick's Day was a party day - green beer, pinching...the things my friends would talk about in middle school. How could I have missed hearing the true story of St. Patrick? He was one amazing person.
So today was pretty much thethe best for me...how could it not be with the profile I have! I was able to be home - watch "Riverdance", strike a few of my friends on facebook with a limerick - you know, fun stuff. Read with the kids about St. Patrick, The Irish- Americans - plus we checked out the website for the upcoming Irish Festival in Dublin - Aug. 1-3 - you should all come if you can. It's pretty awesome..and speaking of awesome - The live Riverdance troupe is coming to the Palace Theatre on April 16 - 22(?). I covet tickets for this! Our friends, James and Rachel bought us tickets one year - and it was one of the most amazing things I've ever witnessed. The music, the dancing and costumes ...oh wow.
Well, to the relief of many - the Limerick Lady is going on Sabbatical. (stop cheering - I can hear you.) I finished 25 limerick's, made a few laugh, a few cry and definatey embarressed a few of my kids. So....
I'm thinking I'll trade in my love of the limerick for the admiration of the author.
I keep looking at all my friends facebooks, and most have book reviews and the such. They must think I'm a nit wit or something -
Seriously - onto Holy Week now and the most sacred of all days - in my opinion - Resurrection Sunday. Jesus Christ was the MOST amazing individual to ever walk this earth. Fully God, fully man. So many deep things to now think of this week. So many things in Christ, our Savior - to be thankful for.
Blessings to all of you!
In this note: Jennifer Frederick (notes), Kirpi Frederick (notes), Pamela
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Pulled in Many Directions
My eyes popped wide open at 5 a.m. this morning. Oh snap...it's going to be a long day I believe.
It is before 8 a.m. now, and I'd rather not admit how many cups of coffee I've enjoyed already on this serene and beautiful morning.
It's so quiet...I cherish these hours in the morning before the day gets noisy and busy. I sometimes find myself so far behind, I don't know where to start. So I'll begin this rambling of thought and word with what I think is most important...
Oh, how I wish I could express how wonderful the Lord is to me! Every day - His mercies are indeed new and I don't know how people can live a day without Him! In the margin of my Bible this morning, I saw a date that I had jotted down next to Psalm 40: 1 - 5: November the seventeenth, 2005. I wonder what happened on that morning? I'll have to get out my journals and see what blessing the Lord brought into our lives that day. That was a rough year for us, as I remember. How I love this passage penned by King David so long ago:
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry....Many, Oh Lord my God, are the wonders you have done! The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare."
Ps. 40: 1a, 5
Even though I feel "pulled in many directions" today, the direction I feel most pulled toward is heavenward. How wonderful to know that it is a certain reality waiting for me - in God's time and in his way.
Today begins a very tough time for my dear friend, Linda. Her dear mother is now face to face with Jesus - and on this side of eternity - many will gather in the next two days for her Viewing and Funeral. As Jen penned this week, I wish we could bear some of the hurt of those that we love. Somehow redistribute the pain load, so we could all carry a part of the grief and burden that is so real and painful. But we cannot. We can only walk beside our friends and family as they in turn walk with God through this narrow path called grief. Several of my close friends have lost their mothers already, and the thought of saying a final good-bye to my own dear Mom brings a pit in my stomach. Dan and I have only lost one of our parents thus far. Dad has been with the Lord for alittle over two years now. Watching Linda go through this process with her Mom brought back many painful memories for me. Yet it has also brought a sense of comfort too. Christine is in a very real place, heaven, and it is a real place that I will be someday too.
I wonder how Corey's family is today. This little fellow is also with the Lord now....death is such a terrible part of this life. So painful.
Never far from my thoughts is Miss Sophia Hope too. I hope to see Ginger today to hear an update on how she is faring these days.
Life. It's good - it's painful - it is filled with extremes.
The daily things have been challenging to me lately. I guess that is why I am feeling pulled in so many directions. I want to spend more time with Dan and the kids (all of them...I miss the adult kids too), but we're in the middle of what I might call remodeling h - e - double hockey sticks. I wasn't anticipating how hard this would be. Again, it's good! but it's painful! We're on day 14 now, and things are still very disheveled. I don't do well with "mess" - as I can't find things and feel like I'm in a foreigh country. Not really - I tend to over exagerate things...but I am weary of it all. We want to do a good job, knowing this floor may not be updated again for awhile. I want to pick the right paint colors and envision how we will want things for years to come so we make the most of every dollar we're spending. Last night on our way to church, Dan and I made yet another Lowes stop picking up more supplies. We encouraged ourselves with the fact that we are saving lots of money by doing a good portion of this ourselves. We'll all be grateful when we're done. We've had a lot of help that we're grateful for, especially from the kids. The men we hired have been great too. It will get done!
In the meantime, I'm also juggling some other major things. I am trying to get some help with Michaela and her home schooling. I've really dropped the ball in some areas and she has some learning challenges that I'm trying to identify and help. She's so sweet though...I love her attitude. On the other end of the spectrum, Danielle and I are making our way through her upcoming high school graduation and perhaps her leaving for College in the fall. Lots of paperwork, lots of mixed emotions going on for me. One of the boys is moving home this weekend also, so that is yet another area I want to help with. We're also trying to locate a piano, primarily for Jon-Mark - to encourage him to pursue his musical interests. I'm excited that Jen and Funnel are looking into the possibility of being first time home buyers! Hopefully Peab and Amy will be able to look soon too. Seth and Micah will be back from Colorado in April sometime - wow, how the months fly by. I am looking forward to having a dozen people around a table for a Sunday dinner again.
I'm thankful for Dan these days. He is a perfect partner for me! We're looking forward to a short time away for his birthday soon.
Even though we as women do feel pulled in many directions at times, it's good to remember to keep our focus on the Lord. I'm grateful for the many wonderful older women and girlfriends the Lord has blessed me with, because they each have taught me many valuable lessons. One of my "Titus two" women turned 60 this week! It would take me all day to list and express to each family member/friend that has benefitted my life in some way. My wonderful Mom, my sweet mother-in-law - my sisters, (both biological and spiritual)...each has taught me lessons that I hope I put into practice, and I pray that I learn to balance my life and keep things heading in the right direction.
It is before 8 a.m. now, and I'd rather not admit how many cups of coffee I've enjoyed already on this serene and beautiful morning.
It's so quiet...I cherish these hours in the morning before the day gets noisy and busy. I sometimes find myself so far behind, I don't know where to start. So I'll begin this rambling of thought and word with what I think is most important...
Oh, how I wish I could express how wonderful the Lord is to me! Every day - His mercies are indeed new and I don't know how people can live a day without Him! In the margin of my Bible this morning, I saw a date that I had jotted down next to Psalm 40: 1 - 5: November the seventeenth, 2005. I wonder what happened on that morning? I'll have to get out my journals and see what blessing the Lord brought into our lives that day. That was a rough year for us, as I remember. How I love this passage penned by King David so long ago:
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry....Many, Oh Lord my God, are the wonders you have done! The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare."
Ps. 40: 1a, 5
Even though I feel "pulled in many directions" today, the direction I feel most pulled toward is heavenward. How wonderful to know that it is a certain reality waiting for me - in God's time and in his way.
Today begins a very tough time for my dear friend, Linda. Her dear mother is now face to face with Jesus - and on this side of eternity - many will gather in the next two days for her Viewing and Funeral. As Jen penned this week, I wish we could bear some of the hurt of those that we love. Somehow redistribute the pain load, so we could all carry a part of the grief and burden that is so real and painful. But we cannot. We can only walk beside our friends and family as they in turn walk with God through this narrow path called grief. Several of my close friends have lost their mothers already, and the thought of saying a final good-bye to my own dear Mom brings a pit in my stomach. Dan and I have only lost one of our parents thus far. Dad has been with the Lord for alittle over two years now. Watching Linda go through this process with her Mom brought back many painful memories for me. Yet it has also brought a sense of comfort too. Christine is in a very real place, heaven, and it is a real place that I will be someday too.
I wonder how Corey's family is today. This little fellow is also with the Lord now....death is such a terrible part of this life. So painful.
Never far from my thoughts is Miss Sophia Hope too. I hope to see Ginger today to hear an update on how she is faring these days.
Life. It's good - it's painful - it is filled with extremes.
The daily things have been challenging to me lately. I guess that is why I am feeling pulled in so many directions. I want to spend more time with Dan and the kids (all of them...I miss the adult kids too), but we're in the middle of what I might call remodeling h - e - double hockey sticks. I wasn't anticipating how hard this would be. Again, it's good! but it's painful! We're on day 14 now, and things are still very disheveled. I don't do well with "mess" - as I can't find things and feel like I'm in a foreigh country. Not really - I tend to over exagerate things...but I am weary of it all. We want to do a good job, knowing this floor may not be updated again for awhile. I want to pick the right paint colors and envision how we will want things for years to come so we make the most of every dollar we're spending. Last night on our way to church, Dan and I made yet another Lowes stop picking up more supplies. We encouraged ourselves with the fact that we are saving lots of money by doing a good portion of this ourselves. We'll all be grateful when we're done. We've had a lot of help that we're grateful for, especially from the kids. The men we hired have been great too. It will get done!
In the meantime, I'm also juggling some other major things. I am trying to get some help with Michaela and her home schooling. I've really dropped the ball in some areas and she has some learning challenges that I'm trying to identify and help. She's so sweet though...I love her attitude. On the other end of the spectrum, Danielle and I are making our way through her upcoming high school graduation and perhaps her leaving for College in the fall. Lots of paperwork, lots of mixed emotions going on for me. One of the boys is moving home this weekend also, so that is yet another area I want to help with. We're also trying to locate a piano, primarily for Jon-Mark - to encourage him to pursue his musical interests. I'm excited that Jen and Funnel are looking into the possibility of being first time home buyers! Hopefully Peab and Amy will be able to look soon too. Seth and Micah will be back from Colorado in April sometime - wow, how the months fly by. I am looking forward to having a dozen people around a table for a Sunday dinner again.
I'm thankful for Dan these days. He is a perfect partner for me! We're looking forward to a short time away for his birthday soon.
Even though we as women do feel pulled in many directions at times, it's good to remember to keep our focus on the Lord. I'm grateful for the many wonderful older women and girlfriends the Lord has blessed me with, because they each have taught me many valuable lessons. One of my "Titus two" women turned 60 this week! It would take me all day to list and express to each family member/friend that has benefitted my life in some way. My wonderful Mom, my sweet mother-in-law - my sisters, (both biological and spiritual)...each has taught me lessons that I hope I put into practice, and I pray that I learn to balance my life and keep things heading in the right direction.
Friday, February 27, 2009
"Peace I leave with you...."
As I read Jesus words to his disciples in John 14, I can think of no other words at this time that bring more comfort.
Peace in the midst of a storm is a precious emotion. Storms of saddness and loss are swirling all around us right now as loved ones say good-bye to their family member walking through the veil from this life to the next.
Another family didn't have time to say good-bye. Jen's cousins felt the full brunt of death come on them suddenly on Sunday, when their 3 yr. old son was killed in a tragic car accident. Today, Corey would have been 4 years old. I hear that there were 2,000 people that visited the family at his viewing. His life mission has been accomplished, even though no one saw his mission ending so early. My heart breaks for this family and they will be in my prayers for many weeks to come.
I'll never forget the life of little Jeremiah Kline. At 10 days old, he went home to be with Jesus, and his heart broken parents chose a phrase to put on his gravestone that I will never forget. "Mission Accomplished". At such a young age, his parents faith enabled them to say that his life and death was a mission that was accomplished. Oh, that we all would have such faith and comfort in the midst of such sorrow and loss.
Upon hearing of Corey's death, I also immediately thought back to the death of little Maria Chapman, the adopted daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife. I read their testimony weeks later and thanked God for sustaining them during such a difficult time. I appreciated their transparency and openness with how they were dealing with their grief and unanswered questions about why this had happened. Yet their faith in our God came through and even though I don't know them, I experienced a growth in my faith too.
Faith is living with questions that are not answered in this life. Lord, please teach all of us to live with unanswered questions and trust you more.
I can hardly keep up with my emotions these days. Two weekends ago, Danielle and I traveled with Candy and Abbey Walsh down to Louisville to visit Boyce College. She and Abbey are considering going there to study for at least a year. We were really pleased with the emphasis on the Word of God there. We'll see what the future holds. As I think about her potentially leaving this Fall, I feel a wide range of emotion. Excitement, for her! A deep sense of missing her, for me. In some ways, she reminds me of myself at that age. I love my kids. They are all so unique and different! I'm also excited about Seth and Micah coming home in April. Seth plans to finish at Columbus State, Micah intends to stay for a few weeks, then head back to Colorado. I knew if they saw those Rocky Mountains we'd have someone settling out there! I think Colorado is beautiful, and I can't wait to visit there again. Zac is inbetween jobs at the moment too - so I'm praying for his future direction.
Last weekend, the girls and I drove up to Mich. for a surprise party for my step-sister! It was awesome. My other step sister from Colorado flew in, and I was so thrilled to have time with her and her son, as we haven't seen each other in about 20 years. Crazy. I don't know where the years have flown. After a busy but wonderful 3 days with my family and our friends, the Crouse's, I met my college room mate (and bridesmaid!) for a late lunch in Lansing. After 20 some years, Becky and I had a wonderful time catching up with each others lives and we can't wait to see each other again. I don't feel old enough to think that I've been out of College for almost 30 years already.
On another front - Sophia was sick when we visited her on Tuesday. Please keep this family in your prayers. She's such a little trooper. We keep praying for her healing and asking the Lord to sustain this awesome family day by day.
Also on Tues. I saw my friend Christine, for perhaps the last time. Christine's family is all around her now, and she will most likely be with the Lord very soon. Please also pray for the Goodwin family. Saying good-bye - even when you are anticipating it, is still so difficult.
I feel a bit like my house today. A big mix of things. We've had it tore up for alittle over a week now, doing some remodeling. Dan and I thought these changes on the main floor would give us the "biggest bang for our buck." Our living room is in the dining room (couch on our table), my closets are in my room, my bathtub is filled with "stuff", there are tools and dust and mess just about everywhere. You know - remodeling. The one word says it all! I'm looking forward to the finished product, living with the disheveled one for awhile. Kind of like the new body and the promise of heaven that I'm looking forward too. It will happen! And that hope gives me peace and joy in the middle of the pain and uncertainty of these days. Last evening, I read a quick chapter from "A Midwives Tale", a book based on the diary of Martha Ballard that won a Pulizer Prize. Many of the accounts were fascinating, but one that I partciularly was amazed by was the story of the diptheria outbreak in 1769, in which a large percentage of the population died, mostly children. Martha herself lost three daughters, ages 2, 4 and 8. But these words just jumped out at me..."In the midst of all the death, Marth gave birth to another daughter." It reminded me that God allows life to come from death - as painful as that is. Joy does come after sorrow - Praise Him! We're going home to be with Him someday and that is a truth many of us cling to on a daily basis.
Back to John 14. I am praying Jesus words indwell each of these families today. When I read the "red letters" in my Bible (which indicates these are Jesus words)
I feel a special comfort today. He experienced our human emotions. He wept when his friend Lazarus died. He understands. He gives us Peace.
Peace in the midst of a storm is a precious emotion. Storms of saddness and loss are swirling all around us right now as loved ones say good-bye to their family member walking through the veil from this life to the next.
Another family didn't have time to say good-bye. Jen's cousins felt the full brunt of death come on them suddenly on Sunday, when their 3 yr. old son was killed in a tragic car accident. Today, Corey would have been 4 years old. I hear that there were 2,000 people that visited the family at his viewing. His life mission has been accomplished, even though no one saw his mission ending so early. My heart breaks for this family and they will be in my prayers for many weeks to come.
I'll never forget the life of little Jeremiah Kline. At 10 days old, he went home to be with Jesus, and his heart broken parents chose a phrase to put on his gravestone that I will never forget. "Mission Accomplished". At such a young age, his parents faith enabled them to say that his life and death was a mission that was accomplished. Oh, that we all would have such faith and comfort in the midst of such sorrow and loss.
Upon hearing of Corey's death, I also immediately thought back to the death of little Maria Chapman, the adopted daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife. I read their testimony weeks later and thanked God for sustaining them during such a difficult time. I appreciated their transparency and openness with how they were dealing with their grief and unanswered questions about why this had happened. Yet their faith in our God came through and even though I don't know them, I experienced a growth in my faith too.
Faith is living with questions that are not answered in this life. Lord, please teach all of us to live with unanswered questions and trust you more.
I can hardly keep up with my emotions these days. Two weekends ago, Danielle and I traveled with Candy and Abbey Walsh down to Louisville to visit Boyce College. She and Abbey are considering going there to study for at least a year. We were really pleased with the emphasis on the Word of God there. We'll see what the future holds. As I think about her potentially leaving this Fall, I feel a wide range of emotion. Excitement, for her! A deep sense of missing her, for me. In some ways, she reminds me of myself at that age. I love my kids. They are all so unique and different! I'm also excited about Seth and Micah coming home in April. Seth plans to finish at Columbus State, Micah intends to stay for a few weeks, then head back to Colorado. I knew if they saw those Rocky Mountains we'd have someone settling out there! I think Colorado is beautiful, and I can't wait to visit there again. Zac is inbetween jobs at the moment too - so I'm praying for his future direction.
Last weekend, the girls and I drove up to Mich. for a surprise party for my step-sister! It was awesome. My other step sister from Colorado flew in, and I was so thrilled to have time with her and her son, as we haven't seen each other in about 20 years. Crazy. I don't know where the years have flown. After a busy but wonderful 3 days with my family and our friends, the Crouse's, I met my college room mate (and bridesmaid!) for a late lunch in Lansing. After 20 some years, Becky and I had a wonderful time catching up with each others lives and we can't wait to see each other again. I don't feel old enough to think that I've been out of College for almost 30 years already.
On another front - Sophia was sick when we visited her on Tuesday. Please keep this family in your prayers. She's such a little trooper. We keep praying for her healing and asking the Lord to sustain this awesome family day by day.
Also on Tues. I saw my friend Christine, for perhaps the last time. Christine's family is all around her now, and she will most likely be with the Lord very soon. Please also pray for the Goodwin family. Saying good-bye - even when you are anticipating it, is still so difficult.
I feel a bit like my house today. A big mix of things. We've had it tore up for alittle over a week now, doing some remodeling. Dan and I thought these changes on the main floor would give us the "biggest bang for our buck." Our living room is in the dining room (couch on our table), my closets are in my room, my bathtub is filled with "stuff", there are tools and dust and mess just about everywhere. You know - remodeling. The one word says it all! I'm looking forward to the finished product, living with the disheveled one for awhile. Kind of like the new body and the promise of heaven that I'm looking forward too. It will happen! And that hope gives me peace and joy in the middle of the pain and uncertainty of these days. Last evening, I read a quick chapter from "A Midwives Tale", a book based on the diary of Martha Ballard that won a Pulizer Prize. Many of the accounts were fascinating, but one that I partciularly was amazed by was the story of the diptheria outbreak in 1769, in which a large percentage of the population died, mostly children. Martha herself lost three daughters, ages 2, 4 and 8. But these words just jumped out at me..."In the midst of all the death, Marth gave birth to another daughter." It reminded me that God allows life to come from death - as painful as that is. Joy does come after sorrow - Praise Him! We're going home to be with Him someday and that is a truth many of us cling to on a daily basis.
Back to John 14. I am praying Jesus words indwell each of these families today. When I read the "red letters" in my Bible (which indicates these are Jesus words)
I feel a special comfort today. He experienced our human emotions. He wept when his friend Lazarus died. He understands. He gives us Peace.
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